rittenhouse



(No- Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

P. RITTBNHOUSB. VELOGIPEDE. No. 266,527. Patented Oct. 24, 1 882.

I In ve 22150 W.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.4

F. RITTENHOUSE.

VBLOGIPEDE. No. 266,527. Patgnted Oct. 24, 1882.

witnesses Ewen to r.

'ATENT- OFFICE.

FRANK RITIENHOUSE, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 266,527, dated October24, 1882. Application filed August 28, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK RI'rTENHoUsE, acitizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county ofProvidence and State of Rhode Island, have invented an Improved Methodof Propulsion by Hand and Foot Power, of which the following is aspecification.

Thisinvention consists in the application of two bent levers, incombination, to the crank ofa bicycle, tricycle, or any similar vehiclepropelled by hand or foot, on land or water, so that by the use of handsand feet together the power can be greatly increased, and also moreconveniently applied. I attain these objects by the mechanismillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sideelevation of the improved method as applied to a bicycle. Fig. 2 is afront View of the same, with the exception that the connecting-rod E(shown in Fig. 1,) is omitted, so as to show the other parts moreclearly. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the hand-lever. Fig. at is a sideelevation of the foot-lever. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of that portionof the fork of a bicycle at H, and shows the manner of connecting thehand-lever with the fork of the bicycle or other machine. In Fig. 2 isshown ahandle, P, connecting the tops of the handlevers.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The hand-leverA B, in combination with the foot-lever U D, as applied toany machine to be propelled, constitutes my improved method ofpropulsion. By connecting the foot-lever O D with the hand-lever A B atthe point I, and the hand-lever A B at the point H with the fork of thebicycle or machine to be propelled, I concentrate all the power(obtained by moving the hand-levers back and forth, and at the same timepressing with the feet on the foottreadles L at the upper extremities ofthe footlevers O D) at the point G, where, by a balljoint, thehand-lever is connected with the crank of the machine by theconnecting-rod E. The fulcrum of the foot-lever O D is at the pin F,(which is secured to the fork of the machine,) where it slides upon thepin by a slot, as shown in Figs. '1 and 4. The tops of the hand-levers AB taper to fit into sockets in the handle P, so that in case of accidentit is instantly detached, as it is held in place only by its position ontop of the levers. By pulling the handlevers forward and at the sametime pressing with the feet on the foot-treadles L a great increase ofpower and an accelerated motion is imparted to thecrank ofthe machine.The constaut tension between hands and feet is sufficient to steer themachine.

A larger wheel can be used by this method than in the ordinary bicycle,and the lovers can be lengthened to suit the requirements of the rider.

This method of propulsion is equally applicable to boats propelled bypaddles and worked by hand or foot.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-- The combination of hand-levers A B with the foot-levers (J I) andthe crank of the bicycle, tricycle, or any similar machine, as shown inthe drawings, for the purpose of giving power and motion to the machine,substantially as described.

FRANK RITIEN HOUSE.

